NFS Login

Randall Wealth Management Logo

Table of Contents

How Income Taxes Work

The Internal Revenue Service estimates that taxpayers and businesses spend about 8 billion hours a year complying with tax-filing requirements. To put this into perspective, if all this work were done by a single company, it would need about four million full-time employees and be one of the largest industries in the U.S.1

As complex as the details of taxes can be, the income tax process is fairly straightforward. However, the majority of Americans would rather not spend time with the process, which explains why more than half hire a tax professional to assist in their annual filing.2

Remember, this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult a professional with tax or legal experience for specific information regarding your individual situation.

GETTING STARTED

The tax process starts with income, and generally, most income received is taxable. A taxpayer’s gross income includes income from work, investments, interest, pensions, as well as other sources. The income from all these sources is added together to arrive at the taxpayers’ GROSS INCOME.

What’s not considered income? Gifts, inheritances, workers’ compensation benefits, welfare benefits, or cash rebates from a dealer or manufacturer.3

From gross income, ADJUSTMENTS are subtracted. These adjustments may include retirement plan contributions, half of self-employment, and other items.

The result is the ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME.

From adjusted gross income, DEDUCTIONS are subtracted. With deductions, taxpayers have two choices: the standard deduction or itemized deductions. The standard deduction amount varies based on filing status, as shown on this chart:

Chart Source: IRS.gov, 2023

Itemized deductions can include state and local taxes, charitable contributions, the interest on a home mortgage, and certain unreimbursed job expenses, among other things. Keep in mind that there are limits on the amount of state and local taxes that can be deducted.4

Once deductions have been subtracted, the result is TAXABLE INCOME. Taxable income leads to GROSS TAX LIABILITY.

But it’s not over yet.

Any tax credits are then subtracted from the GROSS TAX LIABILITY. Taxpayers may receive credits for a variety of items, including energy-saving improvements.

The result is the taxpayer’s NET TAX.

Understanding how the tax process works is one thing. Doing the work is quite another.

Trevor Randall, financial advisor in Long Beach

President and CEO of Randall Wealth Management Group

As a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) and Retirement Income Certified Professional® with over a 10 years of experience, Trevor Randall specializes in personalized retirement planning. As President and CEO of Randall Wealth Management Group, a family business established over 30 years ago, he prioritize hands-on care and detailed investment research to ensure every portfolio decision is accurate.

Book a Complimentary Consultation

We can help you address your needs of today and for many years to come. We look forward to working with you.